Cartridge thermostat



June 4, 1935- p NQTHS-HNE 2,003,638

CARTRIDGE THERMOSTAT Filed Aug. 18, 1928 imam zjwumafoz Home:

Patented June 4, I935 unireu .srarss PATENT OFFICE 2,003,638 CARTRIDGE THERMOSTAT Paul A; Ncthstinc, Dayton, Ohio Application August 18, 1928, Serial No. 300,560

11 fllaims. (Cl. 200-122) My invention relates to intermittently opering magnetic means for accelerating the make ated electric switches and more particularly to a and. break action. thermostatic flasher for effecting automatically A further object of the invention is to provide a. periodic ope-nin and closing of the electric a cartridge type of flasher or thermostatic switch 5 circuit. which may be readily replaced in or removed The present invention pertains to a cartridge from a circuit without disturbing associated type of flasher or thermostatic switch remov parts, ably engaged in moimting, capable of replace== With the above primary and other incidental ment in quite the same manner as the well known objects in view, as will more fully appear in the 10 type oi electrical fuse. The device forming the specification, the invention consists of the fea- 10 subject matterhereof embodies a lei-metal thertures of construction, the parts and combinamostatic bar associated with a heater coil 911-, tions thereof, and the mode of operation, or their closed within a hermetically sealed vessel or eneq vsd as hereinafter described and Set velope which for economy or manufacture and forth in the claims. 15 simplicity may be formed glass tubing. Referring to the accompanying drawing, 15 Associated with the thermal bar within the enwherein is shown t e p ef ed, but v y not VelOpe 01 Container is a magnet, the poles of necessarily the only form of embodiment of the which are engaged by th th r al bar as ii; is invention, i is a perspective view of the carflexed in one direction. The magnetic attra-c d Wi thermal fis forming the s j tion tends to give definition to the movements oi matter hereof. 2 s & longitudinal sectional so the bis-metal ba to cause a quick closing of the view of the assembled flasher or thermal switch. contact as the bar approaches the poles of the File. 3 is mil r vi w at rig angles to 2. magnet, and upon reverse tendency of the ther- F is a detail perspective View Of the magnet ma] bill e agnet tends to momentarily hold ring at the extremity of the hl-'neta l contact bar. the bar till the tension of the bar develops Sllfil= E iea detail sdcl'iisnal View sf & msfiifissflifin LE ciently to effect a quick break. As the thermal of h fla h r ca r d adapter} c s m bar makes contact with the poles of the magnet in El s vs t el hyp of -i fuseit short circuits the heater coil. As the temperansture decreases the tension of the iii-metal bar Like herbs are indicated similar shsmciels increases to effect its flexing movement away re c throughout t several "lswsi w from contact with the poles oi the magnet, there- Referring to the accompanying drawing, is by again bringing the heater coil into the cirthe hermetically sealed vessel or container, with= cuit. One of the important features or the in in w ich a l a d th Operating pa ts of the vention is the fact that the envelope or enclosure fisshell This Vsssel Container, for economy is exhausted or filled with a neutral or inert gas. of manufactu is preferably, though not neces- 8 y removal of the oxygen from the vessel thus sarily, efiected from glass tubing. The ends or" the causing the contact to be made and broken in a tu ng s o a heated d Compressed vacuum or in a body of neutral gas, burning is pitched to seal therein the electrical conductors obviated and the longevity of the contact points hereafter mentioned. Located within. the vessel. is insured. or tube l is a lei-metal bar 2 of any suitable matep The object oi the invention is to simplify the ia T metals o di a ily employ d a e c pp structure as well as the means and d f or brass attached to one side of which is a strip of eration of automatic flashers or thermostatic vs w c metal as a negligible factor 0f switches whereby they will not only be cheapened pe o a d C mmo ion u der er a a in construction, but will be more efficient in use, This bar 2 may be mounted Within the Vessel 3 in positive in operation, uniform in action, autoany suitable manner, preferably, however, bematically controlled; and unlikely to get out of ing secured to two short lengths of wire which p 7 are sealed in the contracted end or press of the A further object of the invention is to provide vessel or tube 5. one of these mounting wires 50 a hermetically sealed enclosure for a thermo- 3 extends beyond the end of the vessel and con- 50 static switch or flasher device whereby the arcing stitutes one of the conductor terminals. Adjaof the contact points will be minimized and the cent to the opposite end of the vessel or tube 5 life of the device materially extended. there is enclosed therein a magnet ring which A further object of the invention is to provide surrounds the free end of the bi-metal bar 2. The 5 an automatic flasher or thermal switch embodyring 4 is split and has its end projected inwardly longitudinally of the vessel or tube l, in parallel relation with the extremity of the bi-metal bar 2 when the latter is in contact engagement therewith. These ends 5 of the ring constitute the poles of the permanent magnet. Surrounding the bimetal bar 2 or otherwise disposed in the vessel or tube l is a heater coil 8, one terminal of which connects with the conductor terminals 3, while the other end of the heater coil is connected with the magnet ring 4 from which extends a second conductor l sealed in the press or contracted end of the vessel or tube i opposite the sealed in conductor 3. A small bit a of iron is preferably mounted upon the free end of the terminal bar 2 to constitute an armature which is attracted and held by the poles 5 of the permanent magnet ring 3. The magnet will exert an attraction for the invar of the bi-metal thermostatic bar even though the iron armature 8 be omitted. However, the provision of the armature 8 insures the attraction and accelerates the action of the bar.

The vessel or tube i is provided with terminal caps 9 which enclose the contracted and sealed end of the tube and to which the conductor elements 3 and l are electrically connected. This afiords a complete self-contained flasher switch capable of being removably mounted in spring fingers as shown at it in Fig. 1. These fingers it are mounted in pairs at spaced intervals upon a suitable insulating base i! and are connected into an electrical circuit, which is completed by the present cartridge type of flasher. When so mounted the respective pairs of fingers it electrically engage the terminal caps 9 of the device, thereby completing the electric circuit through the flasher. Assuming that the cartridge has been so inserted in the mounting fingers it and that the thermal bar 2 being cold is flexed away from the contacts 5, the heater coil 6 will be in series with the other elements of the electrical circuit and current entering the device through one pair of contact fingers it and thence through the cap 9 and conductor terminals 3 will pass through such heater coil to its connection with the magnet ring 3 and thence through the conductors i to the opposite cap and mounting fingers it, thus completing the circuit and generating heat within the vessel i. As the thermal bar 2 becomes heated, it will automatically warp or flex toward the poles ii of the magnet ring l. As'the free end of the thermal barapproaches the poles 5 of the permanent magnet and the armature bit it enters its magnetic field, the attraction of the magnet will efiect a quick final closing movement of the bar. In this final movement the attraction of the permanent magnet is supplemental to the thermal influence of the heater coil in warping or flexing the bar 2. Upon engagement of the bar 2 with the poles 5 of the permanent magnet the shunt is completed from the conductor terminals 3 through such bi-metal bar 2 directly to the magnet ring 6, which as before mentioned, is connected through the opposite terminal? with the exterior cap 9. This shunt connection of the thermal bar with the magnet ring excludes'temporarily the heater coil 6 and current passes through the bar 2 independently of the coil. This allows the coil to cool and at the same time permits cooling of the thermal bar 2. As the bar cools its warping or flexing tendency is in the opposite direction. It will be temporarily held, however, against breaking of engagement with the magnet ring 4 by the magnetic attraction of the latter. The breaking moment is thus delayed until the bar has acquired same-lent tension to overcome the magnetic attraction of the magnet ring 5 and when the break occurs it will be sudden, efiecting an instantaneous movement to such degree as to minimize any arcing tendency. The presence of the magnet ringthus gives definition to the movement of the bi-metal blade 2 in both its closing and opening movements. The exhaustion of oxygen from the vessel or container l prevents any burnin g of the contact points. If so desired, the poles or contact ends 5 of the magnet ring may be slightly offset so that the bar will disengage one pole before leaving the other. The contact point of the latter pole and its area of engagement upon the bi-metal bar 2 may be tung- The operation may be efiected either in vacuum or in a body of inert gas with which the vessel or tube i is charged.

By exhausting or gas filling and hermetically sealing the flasher chamberthe oxidization of the contacts is avoided, enabling the use of tungsten contact points, thereby minimizing manufacturing costs.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a construction of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions and arrangement of parts, without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention is described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into efiect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1, In an automatic fiasher switch, a unitary device for insertion into and removal from an electrical circuit without disturbance of the electrical connections thereof comprising a vessel, metallic terminal caps on the vessel for contact engagement with terminals of an electrical circuit, a thermostatic bar mounted within the vessel, said bar being permanently electrically connected with one of said terminal caps, a contact intermittently engaged by the bar and electrically connected with the other of said terminal caps, said bar being caused to intermittently make and break connection between said terminal caps by fluctuations of temperature.

2. In an automatic flasher switch, a unitary device for detachable engagement in a standard contact intermittently engaged by said bar under influence of temperature fluctuations and electrical conductors leading from the bar and contact to the exterior of the vessel and ter- ,minal contacts upon the hermetically sealed vessel connected with the thermostatic bar and with the interior contact engaged thereby for contact engagement with terminals of theelectrical fuse mounting.

3, In an automatic flasher switch, the combination with a conventional type iuse mounting, of a hermetically sealed vessel from which the oxygen content has been removed detachably engageable therewith, metallic terminal caps upon said vessel making contact with corresponding contacts of the mounting, and a thermostatic bar within the vessel operating under thermal fluctuations to intermittently connect and disconnect the terminal caps with each other.

4. In an automatic flasher switch, the combination with a mounting having spaced electrical contacts for connection into an electrical circuit of a vessel, a thermostatic bar within the vessel, a permanent magnet also enclosed within the vessel having its poles positioned in the path of deflection of the bar and comprising an electrical contact engaged by the bar upon deflection in one direction, and electrical conductors leading from said magnet and said bar respectively to the exterior of the vessel for detachable contact engagement with the electrical contacts of the mounting.

5. In a flasher switch, a thermostatic bar, a permanent magnet, the poles of which extend into the path of deflection of the bar, an armature carried by the bar and moved into the magnetic held by the deflection of said bar, the attraction of the magnet supplementing the thermal tension of the bar in its movement toward the magnet to eiiect a quick and decisive flnal make movement, and tending to temporarily hold the bar in opposition to its reversethermal deflection to eiIect a quick and decisive break movement, a hermetically sealed enclosure for said bar and magnet, and electrical conductor leads from the bar and magnet respectively to the exterior of the enclosure.

6. In a flasher switch, a bimetallic thermostatic bar, a split magnet ring surrounding the free end of the bar with its ends extending into the path of deflection of the bar, a tubular housing within which the ring and bar are supported and electrical conductors leading from the bar and ring respectively.

7. In a flasher switch, a bimetallic thermostatic bar, a split magnet ring, the ends of which are inturned and then bent laterally in substantially parallel relation in a direction perpendicu lar to the plane of the ring, and a tubular mounting for the bar and ring in which the ring is supported in a position surrounding the free end of the bar, with the parallel ends of the ring in the path of deflection of the bar.

8. In a flasher switch, a hermetically sealed vessel, a thermostatic bar in said vessel, an annular magnet also within the vessel surrounding the free end of the bar with its poles in the plane of deflection of the bar, a heater coil in said vessel, said coil being bridged by said bar when in contact with the magnet poles, and electrical conductors leading to the bar and magnet.

9. In a flasher switch a hermetically sealed vessel, a body of inert gas enclosed therein, a" thermostatic bar in said vessel, a magnet also within the vessel with which electrical contact is made by said bar upon deflection under influence of thermal change, and means for subjecting the bar to temperature conditions.

19. A thermostatic control device for electric circuits, comprising a thermostatic make and break switch including a bimetallic element and a magnet, a sealed receptacle in which said switch is enclosed and conductors extending from said element and said magnet to the exterior of said receptacle for connecting said switch in an electric circuit.

11. A circuit controlling device comprising a closed vessel having a non-oxidizing gaseous fill ing, a magnet therein, a bimetallic thermostatic element thereincomposed in part of magnetic material whereby it is attracted by said magnet, and lead in conductors extending through said vessel and secured to said element and magnet respectively.

PAUL A. NOTHSTINE. 

